Oil can



W. B. LYNCH OIL CAN Filed July 30, 1930 Jam. 26, 1932e INVENTOR. lf//LL/n/v Y/vcH M we ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 WILLIAM IB. LYNCH, F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA OIL Application filed July 30,

My invention relates to oil cans for use in the dis ensing of oil for the lubrication of parts o machines and the like, and it has -for a purpose the provision of an oil can having incorporated therein a pump which 1s manually operable to place the oil in the can under pressure so that when a manually operable valve is opened, automatic ejection of the o1l from the can is effected.

lt is also a pur ose of my invention to provide an oil can o the above described character in which the oil containing receptacle is provided with a handle, and the valve opening means is so correlated with respect to the pump and the handle that one may grip the handle with either hand and manipulate the valve opening means with the thumb of either hand, thus ermitting the oil can to be held in one han and the ejection of oil from the can controlled by the same hand. This mode of operation permits the oil can to be held in and manipulated by one hand while the other hand is free to position the outlet end of a flexible spout with which the oil can is provided, to the particular part of a mechanism desired to be lubricated. As a consequence, oil may be applied directly to the point to be lubricated, and thus the waste lof oil is minimized.

l will describe only one form of oil can embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

1n the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical section one form of oil can embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing the oil can in top plan.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a receptacle 15 in which the oil to be dispensed is contained. This receptacle is provided at its top with a fianged opening 16, the flange of which is eXteriorly threaded to receive a collar 17. The collar 17 in applied position embraces a disk 18 Jformed integral with a valve body 19, the latter extending upwardly and exteriorly of the can.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, this valve body 19 is interiorly formed with a valve chamber 2O in which operates a valve 21 havlll CAN

1930. Serial No. 471,843.

ing at its lower side a hollow and circular extension 22. At its upper side the valve 2l is provided with a stem 23 which 0 crates in a chamber 24 formed with a latera o` enn ing 25. Between the chambers 20 an 24 55 a valve seat 26 is formed, and when the valve 21 is closed the two chambers are out of communication with each other. The stem 23 is of such length as to project from the upper end of the valve body 19 in order that it may 60 be engaged by a valve openin means to depress the stem and thus open t e valve. The valve 2l is normally closed by means of a spring 27 interposed between the extension 22 and a fitting 28 screw-threaded in the lower 65 end of the valve body and providing a connection for a tube 29 which extends downwardly into the receptacle and which is designed to conduct oil from the receptacle upwardly into the valve chamber 20.

The lateral opening 25 has its wall screwthreaded to -receive a threaded nip le 30 on a fitting 31, and the tting is provlded with an opening in communication with the nipple and in which is received a threaded nipple 32 on one end of the flexible spout 33. It is important to note that the littin 31 is of angular form and that its lower side is provided with a notch or groove 34 in which a lever L, constituting the valve opening means, is mounted to be movable to engage the projecting end of VVthe valve stem 23 for depressing the latter against the tension of the spring 27 to open the valve 21.

The lever L is constructed of any Suitable spring metal in order that it may be manually flexed from the normal position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 to the broken line position shown in the figure. This lever includes a curved part 35, the free end of which is formed with a slot 36 in which the fitting 31 yis received and in such manner that the lower end Wall of the slot engages within the notch or groove 34. This slot is of such width as to snugly receive the fitting and to thereby retain the lever as a whole against any lateral movement. Further, the slot is of such length as to accommodate the nipple 32, and also to permit of the necessary movement of the lever to effect closing of the valve.

The lever L also includes a iat and widened part 37 which is bifurcated to form a pair of .s aced extensions 38. These extensions are 'sposed directl above and adjacent to the upper end of a andle 39 secured to the receptacle 15, and which handle is adapted to be gripped by either hand to support the can as a whole. In view of the posltioning of the extension with respect to the handle, it should be apparent that either extension can be engaged by either thumb of either hand, and by depressing either extension, the lever L can be flexed to cause the curved part 35 to engage and depress the valve stem to open the valve. By reason of the resiliency of the metal of which the lever is formed, it will be understood that once the lever is relieved of pressure, it will return to its normally elevated position allowing the stem to rise under the action of the spring, and the valve to close.

In practice, the receptacle is lled with oil through a filling cap 40, and by the provision of a conventional form of pump 41 air can be pumped to the receptacle to place the oil therein under pressure. This pump is shown as projecting from the receptacle to a point directly above the handle 39 and between the extensions 38. This arrangement of the pump with respect Vto the handle facilitates the manual operation of the pump for by holding the can in one hand through the medium of the handle, the other hand can be used to 0perate the pump, and the force necessary to actuate the pump can be counteracted by rmly gripping the handle. Further, the location of the pump does not interfere with the operation of the lever by reason of the spaced extensions 38.

As previously described, the spout 33 is flexible in order that it may be moved to and maintained in any position required to dispense oil to any particular spot, and it will be understood that in the actual use of the oil can, one hand of the operator is free to bend the spout to the required position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of oil can embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

. claim:

1. In an oil can, a receptacle, a valve body secured to the receptacle and coutainin a normally closed valve and a stem projecting from the body, a spout, a fitting for mounting the spout on the valve body, and a valveopening member mounted on the fitting and capable of being moved to engage the stem and open the valve.

2. In an oil can, a receptacle, a valve body secured to the receptacle and containing a normally closed valve and a stem projecting notch to support the member as a whole, said member being movable to engage the stem and open the valve.

3. In an oil can, a receptacle, a valve body secured to the receptacle and containing a normally closed valve and a stem proj ectlng from the body, a spout, a notched fitting for mounting the spout on'the valve body, a valve opening member having a slot therein receiving the fitting in such manner that a portion of the member engages within said notch to support the member as a Whole, said member being movable to engage the stem and open the valve, a pump extending into the receptacle, a handle on the receptacle directly beneath the pump, and spaced extensions on the member disposed at opposite sides of the pump and adjacent the handle.

4. An oil can, comprising a receptacle, having a collared opening at its top, a valve body secured in said opening and having a normally closed valve and a stem projecting from the valve body, an outlet tube extending downward from the valve body into the receptacle, a fitting on the valve body exteriorly of the receptacle, a spout supported on the fitting, said fitting being formed with a notch on its under side, a lever of spring metal having a curved part disposed above the valve stem and slotted to receive the fitting in such manner that one end of the lever engages Within said notch so that the lever is supported by the fitting, and another part which is bifurcated, a pump extending into the receptacle and through the bifurcated part of the lever, and a handle on the receptacle below the pump.

WILLIAM B. LYNCH. 

